Chip and blank separator for lathes



Feb. 1927.

l J. J. THACHER CHIP AND BLANK SEPARATOR FOR LATI-IES Filed March 30, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Feb. l, 1927.

J. J. THACHER CHIP AND BLANK SEPARATOR FOR LATHES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 30, 1.923

/ ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 1, 1927.

UNITED srfrl-:sl

PATENT OFFICE.f

JOHN JTHACHER, 0F WETHERSFIELD, i(BONNIECJEICUCL,`ASSIGrllOlt T0 PRATT & WBIT-a i NEY COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEWJERSEY.

CEIP AND BLANK SEPARATOR FORIATHES.

Application led March 30, 1923. Serial No. 628,848.k

This invention're'lates to lathes and par-` ticularly to an improvement in lathes of the type shown in the patent to Mller 1,252,)28 granted January 8th, 1918. The invention may be applied to other types of metal cutting tools but as it is of especial value 1n lathes of the automatic type, it will be illustrated in combination therewith.

An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism whereby blanks, after having been released from the work supporting and rotating means, or cut from bar stock, may be guided into a receptacle provided therefor without vbecoming mixed with the chips generated during the turning operations. v

Another object of the invention is to provide guiding means normally operative to guide chips into a receptacle and adapted` when a blank is about to be released or cut off, to guide the blankinto a separate receptacle.

One feature which enables me to accomplish the above named objects is that I provide an oscillating plate at the lower part of a guideway formed within the base ofthe lathe which may be moved to two positions. In one position it permits the chips to fall into a special receptacle and in its lother operative position guides the finished work pieces or blanks into a separate receptacle. Another feature of advantage' is that cam means are provided which through a frictional connection control thc movements of this plate in timed relation to the operative movements of the machine.

During operation of the lathe while the tool is cutting the blank, the plateis retained ina position so that chips are prevented from entering thereceptaclelfor the blanks. lVhen the cutting operation has been completed and the blank is about to be released, the plate is oscillatcd so that the blank will be prevented from entering the receptacle for the chips and Ywill be guided into a separate receptacle which the chips are prevented from entering. As soon as the turning operation is again started, the plate is returned to its initial position.

With these and other obiects in view, my invention consists in the features of construction and operation set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. y

In the accompanying drawings annexed finished hereto and forming'a part of this speciicai stood that the invention can be embodied in i other metal cutting machines and that the drawings are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention. The claims appended to this specification are relied upon for that purpose and, wherever the term lathe is used, it is to be understood in its generic sense as defining any metal cutting or turning machine.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a front elevation of an automatic lathe showing the present invention incorporated therein.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View of the complete machine.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional View showing the mechanism for operating `the oscillatlng plate, and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view takenon line 4.--4 of Fig. l.

In the above mentioned drawings, I have shown but one modification of the invention which is now deemed preferable but it is to be understood that changes and` modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Briefly, the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration in its broadest aspects comprises the following principal parts: first, a lathe, the one selected for il' timed relation to each other; sixth, a guide'-r way extending obliquely through thel bed of the machine for guiding the finished Work pieces and the chips; seventh, two separate and independent receptacles placed adjacent the lower end of this guideway; eighth, an oscillating plate which in one position may allow the chips to fall into one of the receptacles and in` its other operative position Will guide work pieces or blanksinto the other i receptacle; and ninth, means for actuating the other mechanisms of the machine.

Referring more in detail .to the figures of the drawings, I show the principal operative mechanisms of a lathe of the automatic type comprising a. base having a headstock l1 mounted on one end thereof and a tailstock 12 mounted'at the other end. The tailstock 12 is provided with a plunger 13 carrying a center 14 whichl is automatically operated. Also, preferably, the work rotating member or chuck 15 in the headstock 11 is automatically opened and closed by suitable means. In rear of the machine is a bracket member, 18 on which is mounted a blank transferring mechanism 19 adapted to transfer a work blank A from a magazine 20 mounted on the bracket. 18 to operative position on the Work supporting and rotating members. As each of these mechanisms is or may be substantially similar to those disclosed in the above mentioned patent or in application No. 621,- 368 iiled February 26, 1923,' further descripl, tion of these mechanisms is not thought.I to

be necessary. It. is only necessary to state that these mechanisms are controlled in predetermined timed relation to each other preferably by cam actuated means. Preferably a main cam shaft 21 is provided for this purpose on which may be mounted cams for actuating each of the mechanisms.

Extending obliquely through the base 10 of the machine is a longitudinal web 22 inclined as will be evident from an inspection of F ig. 2. The upper surfaceofthis Web`22 serves as a guideway permitting chips generated during the process of cutting, as well as the cutting fluid, to fall from the Work directly through the bed or the base 10 of the machine. The chips and lubricant or cutting fluid after passing down the web 22 may enter a receptacle 23 placed contiguous to the lower end of the web 22.

lt will be understood that in the operation of the machine if no additional mechanism were supplied, finished work pieces A, when released from the work supporting and rotating means, or cut oft' from bar l stock, would also fall into the receptacle 23 with the chips. As this would necessitate later separation of the work pieces A. from the chips generated during operation, means are provided to automatically deliver the tinished blanks to a separate receptacle 24 in a manner which will prevent any of the 'chips becoming mixed with them. For this purpose, an oscillating plate 25 is provided adapted to oscillate about the trunnions 2d shown clearly in Fig. 1. In the upper position of this oscillating plate 25, which is shown in full lines, it will be seen that chips and cutting Huid may fall directly into the first receptacle 23. By deflecting or oscil# lating the plate 25 to its inclined lower position as shown in dotted lines, the finished work piece A as it drops from its supporting and rotating means, such as the chuck 15 and tailstock center 14, will be guided into the receptacle 24 provided just in advance of the receptacle 23 'for the chips. lt will be seen also that in the normal or upper position of this plate 25, the passage to the receptacle 24 for the blanks A is completely closed thus preventing the chips from entering the forward receptacle. Similarly, with the oscillating plate 25 in its lower position, the passage to the rear receptacle 23 for the chips is entirely closed.

In order to oscillate or otherwise move this oscillating plate 25, cani means are provided which automatically actuate it from one extreme position to the other#j These means are so arranged that they will actuate the plate 25 in. proper predetermined timed relation to the movements of the other operative mechanisms. f'

Preferably," provide a cam which may be mounted on a main cam shaft 21 together with the cams for operating the other mecha nisms of the machine. This cam 30 is so formed and positioned that just at the time the tailstock plunger 13 is retracted to release the blank from. the work supporting and holding means, or just. as the cutting tools are finishing their operation, the plate 25 will be oscillated to its lower position.

On the same cam shaft 21 with the cam 30 actuating the plate 25 is a cam 31 on a drum 32 for operating the tool slide or car riage 33, a cam 34 for the tailstock plunger 14, and other cams (not shown) for operating the blank transferring means and any other parts that require periodic movements. As each of these cams isiixed directly to the cam shaft, each of the mechanisms is actuated in accordance with a predetermined sequence. 4 The cani 30 which may be formed on the face of a web on the drum 32 is engaged byk a roller 35:01u the free end of avv short lever 36 which' oscillates about the trunnion 26 as shown in Fig. 1. This lcverl by means of the friction disks 37 on oppositesides associated with the coiled spring 38 shown in Fig. 4, oscillates the oscillating plate 25. Ars shown in Fig. 1, the plate 25 is extended slightly beyond one of the trunnions 26 which extension. 39 partly surrounds this trunnion. Ar threaded stud 40 provided in the extension 39 retains the parts of the frictional connection in adjusted position.

Preferably the lever 36 is oscillated to its i lower inclined position by the roller engag` ing a plate 41 fixed to or forming a part of the actuating cam 30 and is also positively oscillated. to its upper position by the sloping surface 42 onthe cam shown most clearly in Fig. 2. The main portions of the cam are circumferential so that the lever 36 and also the oscillating plate 25 are maiutained in their upper oscillated position during' the major portion of' the rotation .of the cam shaft 21. It will be understood that by disposing the active part of the cam, comprising its sloping surfaces, in roper relation to othery cams. on this sha t that the oscillatin plate 25 may be actuated in predetermine timed relation to the other mechanisms. l

As the connection between the actuating lever 36 and the oscillating plate 25v is :fric-- tional, a blank A or other article becoming interposed between the parts of the base and the plate will not interferel with or damage the mechanisms. The lever will oscillate and friction members betweenl the lever and'plate will slip thus permitting the plate to remain stationary. Also, in the event that a workman has his hands within the guideway, Athe frictional connectionbetween the lever and the plate will prevent any damage or linjury being done.

From the above, it will be seen that during normal operation of the machine while cutting operations are in progress von the blank A, the plate 25 will be elevated. This allows all of the chips and cutting iluid to fall within their proper receptacle 23 and, as soon as the cutting operation has been completed, and itis desired to convey the finished work A to another receptacle, the plate 25 is oscillated to its lower position. In' this position, the nished blank A is guided to its special receptacle 24, andas there are no chips falling at that time due to the cutting operation being completed, no chips are admitted to this receptacle 2li with thehnished blanks. As soon as the blank A has been released from the work supporting and rotating means and has passed through the guideway, the automatic transferring mechanism 19 operates to position another blank A upon the work supporting members comprising the chuck 15 and center 14. As soon as this is accomplished, the cutting operation again begins. Just before the cutting operation 1s resumed, the oscillating plate 25 1s again actuated to its upper position thus reopening the guideway for the chips and closing the passage to the'work holdin recepta'cle.

As sIiown in Fig. 1, the plate 25 is preferably perforated or provided with openings so that the cutting fluid may at all times be permitted to drain into the receptacle 33 or into the base of the machine. l'

Each of the receptacles is perforated as shown at 23 and 24D* respectively. This permits oil on the chips and blank to drain from these receptacles. As the receptacles are mounted upon suitable supports 45 within the drip pan 46 of themachine, all of the oil `draine f riage,

from receptacles 23 and 24 flows into the drip pan and thence may be returned to the work by means of a pump of usual form.

What I claim is:

1. A lathe comprising in combination, a base, work supporting and rotating means thereon, transfer mechanism adapted to position blanks in operative position, a tool carmeans to automatically control the movements of the above mentioned parts in predetermined timed relation to each other, an oscillating plate supported upon said base, an enclosed guideway formed within the base for the passage of chips downward therethrough, and means comprising actuat; ing means for said oscillating plate to close said guideway at its lower end and kopen another guideway for the finished blank when said blank is released from the supporting and rotating means.

2. A l the lcomprising 1n combination, a4

to pass below it and vthrough the base of the machine, and means to oscillate said plate to another position while a blank is being released and another blank'is being mounted on the work su porting and rotating means to permit t e blank 'to pass over said plate and into the receptacle.

3. A chip and blank separating attachment for lathes comprising in combination,

an oscillating plate, and means including a rictional connection to periodically oscillate -s'aid plate in predetermined timed relation to the movements of the operative parts of the lathe.

4. An attachment for lathes -comprising in combination, two receptacles adapted to be placed adjacent the base of the lathe, an

enclosed guideway extending through the base of said lathe for'y chips and for completed blanks, and means including an oscillating plate pivotally mounted adjacent the lower end of said guideway normally permitting the chips generated during the cutting operation to enter one of the receptaclesv and preventin them from enterin the other receptacle, sai plate being movabIe to guide a finished blank into the other receptacle.

In testimony whereof, I hereto aliix my signature.

^ JOHN TEACHER. 

